My 2 Year Old having trouble at Montessori School

[KellyVas]

Help!  My 2 year old son statred pre-school at Montessori school a little over a week ago.  I have been so excited about this school since it comes with an excellent reputation.  The first two days went wonderfully.  Then on the third day my son started throwing tantrums as soon as he realized he was going to school. Yesterday the lead teacher said that he was having trouble transitioning from one activity to the next and that he always prefers to be outside.  They also said that after he naps in the afternoon he becomes a totally well-behaved calm cooperative child but in the mornings he's throwing tantrums especially when it's time to stop something that he likes doing.  The teacher told me today that they are having a meeting about my son and that they will talk to us when we pick him up today.  I of course, left the school sobbing as up until now, my son has always been very good about staying with baby-sitters and (we recently moved 3 months ago from California to Tennessee) he has been in childcare since he was 10 weeks old and before he was fine. All the other children in his class seem really happy and are playing contently when we bring my son in the morning.  I am so perplexed by this and would appreciate any advice.  Would the Montessori school want to give up on my son when it hasn't even been two weeks?  It breaks my heart to drag my screaming child in to the school every morning and see the look of "Oh brother here he comes" on the teachers faces.

[Sad_Dad]

A related discussion, Not sure of what to do next... was started.

[Cleveland Mom]

Many 2 year olds are not ready for preschool/Montessori.  Often time, waiting until a child is sufficently mature to start the preschool experience is the best way to proceed.  In general 3 year olds are more able to adjust to a preschool routine.  I have known many kids (including my own son) who had a very difficult time entering preschool at 2, who did fine when the parents waited until they were 3 years old.   Best wishes...

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It's to be expected that a child will require some settling-in time after the major changes your son has undergone. His world has literally been turned upside down. Hopefully all concerned will relax, provide sound structure and support, and not react disproportionately to what is occurring. The sort of behavior you see in the afternoon is what you will eventually see in the morning. It indicates that your son is perfectly capable of adapting to the new structure. To expect a child of two years to be acting in an unruffled manner when his world has changed so much in a short time is not at all realistic. He's behaving normally under difficult circumstances.